Tag Archives: Google Spreadsheets

Earlier this week we posted an update to our How To instructions for downloading your Fitbit data to Google Spreadsheets. This has been one of our most popular posts over the past few years. One of the most common requests we’ve received is to publish a guide to help people download and store their minute-by-minute level step and activity data. Today we’re happy to finally get that up.

The ability to access and download the minute-by-minute level (what Fitbit calls “intraday”) data requires one more step than what we’ve covered previously for downloading your daily aggregate data. Access to the intraday data is restricted to individuals and developers with access to the “Partner API.” In order to use the Partner API you must email the API team at Fitbit to request access and let them know what you intend to do with that data. Please note that they appear to encourage and welcome these type of requests. From their developer documentation:

Fitbit is very supportive of non-profit research and personal projects. Commercial applications require additional review and are subject to additional requirements. To request access, email api at fitbit.com.

In the video and instructions below I’ll walk you through setting up and using the Intraday Script to access and download your minute-by-minute Fitbit Data.

Editors Note: We’ve updated this post to reflect Google’s move to a new version of their spreadsheet application. The newest version no longer support the Script Gallery mentioned here. We have included a link in the instruction steps below that allows you to use the old version of Google Spreadsheets. We’ll keep an eye out and update this post again if the old version is taken down. We’ve also included a new set of instructions if you’d like to use the new Google Spreadsheets. This involves slight editing to a simple script (updated 09/22/14).

We’ve updated the script to reflect Fitbit’s move to only accept HTTPS requests to access their API. Make sure to update your own scripts if you’ve modified the one linked below in Step 4 (updated 10/15/14).

If you’re like me, then you’re always looking for new ways to learn about yourself through the data you collect. As a long time Fitbit user I’m always drawn back to my data in order to understand my own physical activity patterns. Last year we showed you how to access your Fitbit data in a Google spreadsheet. This was by far the easiest method for people who want to use the Fitbit API, but don’t have the programming skills to write their own code. As luck would have it one of our very own QS Meetup Organizers, Mark Leavitt from QS Portland, decided to make some modifications to that script to make it even easier to get your data. In this video below I walk you through the steps necessary to setup your very own Fitbit data Google spreadsheet.

On February 11th FitBit released their API into the wild and let developers get to work. Since then there have been some very neat integrations. One of the best uses of the API it the open source script that enables users to download their data into google spreadsheets. Developed by John McLaughlin, this script gives everyone the ability to get their historical data from FitBit and play with visualizations and analytics. Even someone without any programming experience can start creating very neat dynamic charts and graphs in under 30 minutes. For example I created the the following charts in just a few minutes (click images for interactive versions):

Daily Step Count:

If you already have a FitBit you might be wondering how to actually implement John’s script to grab your own data and start making fun charts and graphs. It takes about 15 minutes from start to finish to set up your FitBit developer account and then set up the script in Google Docs. The step-by-step process is outlined after the jump.

Partners

Sponsors

Friends of QS

We recently started a program to invite QS Toolmakers to contribute directly to funding our events. We call this program Friends of QS. If you would like to participate we invite you email us to learn more.